August 10, 2020

Animal Kingdom's Extinct Dino

When Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998, the Discovery River Boats sent guests on a journey passing by the different themed areas of the new park. Departing from Safari Village, these were similar to the Plaza Swan Boats at the Magic Kingdom. There really wasn't that much to see as it was more for transportation than a real attraction, but it made for a pleasant break on the water in a park that seemed hotter than usual. 

When cruising by an area for the unbuilt and aborted Beastly Kingdom area, there were some cavernous rocks giving the impression of a fire breathing dragon inside. When the boats rounded another bend at Dinoland U.S.A., they encountered this Iguanodon. In its original form, the cruise was unpopular and didn't last much more than 15 months or so. Unfortunately, the dinosaur also became extinct around the same time. 

Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom is a unique and beautiful park with one of the most fascinating stories in Imagineering lore! If you'd like to read more, take a look at this eight part series that tells its story. There's tons of art, vintage photos, trip reports and more. Enjoy!

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